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A large spoon carved from a single piece of wood. The handle forms a long arm ending with a hand extending onto the bowl. The top has fine decorative geometric patterns. Spoons like this were used for serving sour milk.
Serving Spoon (Isixwembe)
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Serving Spoon (Isixwembe)

Maker Zulu Artist
Date20th century
Place of originSouth Africa, Africa
MediumCarved wood
Dimensions14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm)
ClassificationsFurnishings and Equipment
Credit LineGift of Norma Canelas Roth and William D. Roth
Object number2010.95.5
Collections
Visual DescriptionA large spoon carved from a single piece of wood. The handle forms a long arm ending with a hand extending onto the bowl. The top has fine decorative geometric patterns. Spoons like this were used for serving sour milk.
Long handle spoon with bulbous bowl on end, resembling gourd. Sections on bowl and handle are slightly raised and darkened with black pigment. Overall shiny dark surface, shows some wear.
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image of a mermaid with dark hair, who is surrounded by fish, and holding a spoon over a bowl of food supported by fish; the background has gray columns on a field of light blue. Inscription in white on the black frame, bottom, is .. Mami Wata is a spirit who lives in the sea will ruin your Life and you will go to hell. Go to Jesus Christ..." Signature on lower right corner reads: Kwame Akoto, Almighty God Artworks, Kumasi.
Mami Wata is a Mermaid Spirit who Lives in the Sea
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An off-white print featuring the poem "Another August" By James Merrill in orange text on the left. Beside it is a soft, sweeping sketch of tall trees and a tiny figure on a path, rendered in pale blue, green, and brown. The poem reads: Pines. The white, ochre-pocked houses. Sky unflawed. Upon so much former strangeness a calm settles, glaze of custom to be neither shattered nor shattered by. Home. Home at last. Years past—blind, tattering wind, hail, tears—my head was in those clouds that now…
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